Boogielander Build

[PurpleRT]

I totally missed the hot springs, if you find yourself near Cody, WY.. Buffalo Bill dam is worth a quick stop. Also if you find a restaurant that offers Bison Steak give one a try. A bit on the pricey side but worth at least experiencing once while you’re in the area.

 

[boogielander]

I totally missed the hot springs, if you find yourself near Cody, WY.. Buffalo Bill dam is worth a quick stop. Also if you find a restaurant that offers Bison Steak give one a try. A bit on the pricey side but worth at least experiencing once while you’re in the area.

ill have to put that on the route for the redemption trip next year.
had to go back to Bozeman to get more new seals for the GFC and then the truck's making metal grinding noise whenever I hit a bump from the cowl area. I was gonna go through Cody and meet my friends in Telluride, CO this weekend but I'm skipping that too to get back a bit early so I have a week to tear the truck apart to find that noise. Also am contemplating on putting the truck on jack stands and yank out the shocks for rebuild and possibly getting them tuned as well.

Also gonna go back to work a week early because I'm a bit too liberal on souvenirs, food, and cheat days at hotels in the past few weeks lol.

 

[boogielander]

Day 48 - South Bound
Today I left Bozeman and started heading south via West Yellowstone, repeating the route I took few days ago and follow the route that I was supposed to take a year ago when I went to Bozeman to pick up my camper.

Only this time, sun's out and weather's on my side.

I did had a few photo spots marked from a few days ago, so I found one that wasn't occupied and took some pictures.

Then, not really wanting to leave MT, I found a pull out and had lunch.

Gaia GPS has been my trusted backup navigational tool for me this trip. Even though it's not easy to use for most people, once mastered it's an invaluable tool to have when out and about especially when traversing into unfamiliar territories.

Later in the day, I managed to capture my first complete shadow in Idaho.

The sun was setting as I approached southern Idaho.

Goodbye, Idaho and Montana. Hopefully I will return next year.

Destination for the night was Salt Lake City. As the red rocks started to appear, I knew I was close and began my final push. I was trying to get to SLC right around dinner time, so I could have some Pho. Nothing beats some good noodle soup after a long day of driving.

I got to the pho joint 30 minutes before they closed, and it was awesome! The soup was good and came with a lot more ingredients than I expected, and costed way less than anywhere else I've seen!

Tonight, I needed to figure out where to go the next day: head west then south, or head east to Colorado to meet my friends.

 

[boogielander]

Day 49 - Trying NOT to get home

Leaving SLC behind, my first stop and the only stop for the day was Bonneville Salt Flat, about 2 hours away from SLC.

The salt flat was an interesting spot for photos especially in the noon direct sunlight, but once mastered, the shots came out more than perfect.
It's like I'm in a natural photobooth!

Took some opportunities to shoot some detail shots. Maybe one day Baja Designs will use these shots for their marketing lol

Or maybe one day RAM will use these. One can hope eh?

Even with the lights on, the midday direct sunlight at the salt flat made it a bit easier for these light on shots.

And of course, gotta deploy the tent!
This shot reminded me of that scene in Pirates of Caribbean with the ship and the white crabs moving the ship lol

I didn't get the chance to take this touristy shot when going in because there was a line of cars waiting, so I did it before I left.
Had to wait a bit longer because a tour bus pulled up and its occupants were taking tourist photos (and took their time) so I sat in my truck with AC pumping.
There's a ledge right under the truck, but I got clearance while other RVs and passenger cars don't, so I pulled up and positioned the truck there.
The tourists were looking at me and even told me they thought I'd go around because of the drop. I told them this is nothing for this correctly built $100k truck and I wasn't even in 4wheel drive lol

Told them to look me up if they want to go to Arctic Ocean and drive there in comfort when they have a chance, I can build one for them! LOL the ultimate marketing move


After that brief conversation, I was on the move again. It was almost 3PM and my campsite was still about 5 hours away.
I stopped at West Wendover on the NV side to fill up the tank and rinse the salt off the truck. I got most of them but still a lot more that I couldn't get to. But it is what it is, I guess.

I got to camp well after sun went down. It was a trip for me because just a week and half ago I was still getting sunlight at 8PM, but now it was complete darkness at 730PM.
Well, on the plus side, I finally got to use my lights in the twisty mountain passes.

Got to camp just in time for some milky way shots. I didn't mess with it too much because I had yet to have dinner, and I had to decide if I want to go see the test sites and deal with camping in the desert or head home the next day.

Camped at the campground I was just at in June when my friends and I did Grand Canyon North.
Had to make up the shot the next morning.

 

[1BADRAMLIMITED]

Day 49 - Trying NOT to get home
View attachment 190351
Leaving SLC behind, my first stop and the only stop for the day was Bonneville Salt Flat, about 2 hours away from SLC.
View attachment 190352
The salt flat was an interesting spot for photos especially in the noon direct sunlight, but once mastered, the shots came out more than perfect.
It's like I'm in a natural photobooth!
View attachment 190353
Took some opportunities to shoot some detail shots. Maybe one day Baja Designs will use these shots for their marketing lol
View attachment 190354
Or maybe one day RAM will use these. One can hope eh?
View attachment 190355
Even with the lights on, the midday direct sunlight at the salt flat made it a bit easier for these light on shots.
View attachment 190356
And of course, gotta deploy the tent!
This shot reminded me of that scene in Pirates of Caribbean with the ship and the white crabs moving the ship lol
View attachment 190357
I didn't get the chance to take this touristy shot when going in because there was a line of cars waiting, so I did it before I left.
Had to wait a bit longer because a tour bus pulled up and its occupants were taking tourist photos (and took their time) so I sat in my truck with AC pumping.
There's a ledge right under the truck, but I got clearance while other RVs and passenger cars don't, so I pulled up and positioned the truck there.
The tourists were looking at me and even told me they thought I'd go around because of the drop. I told them this is nothing for this correctly built $100k truck and I wasn't even in 4wheel drive lol

Told them to look me up if they want to go to Arctic Ocean and drive there in comfort when they have a chance, I can build one for them! LOL the ultimate marketing move

View attachment 190358
After that brief conversation, I was on the move again. It was almost 3PM and my campsite was still about 5 hours away.
I stopped at West Wendover on the NV side to fill up the tank and rinse the salt off the truck. I got most of them but still a lot more that I couldn't get to. But it is what it is, I guess.

I got to camp well after sun went down. It was a trip for me because just a week and half ago I was still getting sunlight at 8PM, but now it was complete darkness at 730PM.
Well, on the plus side, I finally got to use my lights in the twisty mountain passes.
View attachment 190359
Got to camp just in time for some milky way shots. I didn't mess with it too much because I had yet to have dinner, and I had to decide if I want to go see the test sites and deal with camping in the desert or head home the next day.
View attachment 190360
Camped at the campground I was just at in June when my friends and I did Grand Canyon North.
Had to make up the shot the next morning.

THANK YOU FOR TAKING US ALONG ON YOUR TRIP, I TRIED MY BEST TO CHECK THE FORUM DAILY TO READ YOUR UPDATES AND ADMIRE THE AWESOME PHOTOS YOU SNAGGED. GLAD YOU ARE BACK STATE SIDE, GOOD LUCK ON THE REST OF YOUR TRIP!

 

[boogielander]

THANK YOU FOR TAKING US ALONG ON YOUR TRIP, I TRIED MY BEST TO CHECK THE FORUM DAILY TO READ YOUR UPDATES AND ADMIRE THE AWESOME PHOTOS YOU SNAGGED. GLAD YOU ARE BACK STATE SIDE, GOOD LUCK ON THE REST OF YOUR TRIP!

im home already hahahaha
i've been busy cleaning up the truck and chasing down that front end noise but I couldn't replicate it.

 

[JamRam]

im home already hahahaha
i've been busy cleaning up the truck and chasing down that front end noise but I couldn't replicate it.

Hold up!

So you still don't know what the noise is, but you're hauling a$$ across the salt lakes????

Oh to be a carefree youngster again...

 

[boogielander]

Hold up!

So you still don't know what the noise is, but you're hauling a$$ across the salt lakes????

Oh to be a carefree youngster again...

hahaha i took it slow to go in and it was FLAT
like flatter than any road in PRCommiefornia.

 

[boogielander]

Day 50 - Back Home
Well, sorry for the delay. I actually got home a week ago but I've been busy so didn't really touch the photos from the last day.
I left the campground right before the checkout deadline, because I was finding zero incentive to go back to PRCali.
I had to put the light covers back on, because of all the places I've been, California Highway Patrol is the only agency that pull people over for uncovered aux lights that I've heard of. I've drove through OR, WA, BC, YK, AK, NT, AB, MT, WY, UT, and NV in the past 50 days, and not once a cop gave a crap about it. Hell, i got thumb ups from cops all over instead.
(note: I'm trying to NOT give cops in PRCali reasons to pull me over because it gets expensive very quick)


Passed through Vegas, my usual pitstop. This time, I had time to go get lunch, boba, and then filled up the tank.

Seeing I was gonna get stuck at Cajon Pass anyways, I decided to go on an adventure. I think this is the spot where they photographed AEV Prospector XL marketing photos back in 2020, and I'm 80% sure it was.


Unfortunately, the sun wasn't on my side at this time, but I did the best I could. Maybe one day when I somehow end up leaving vegas at sunrise I could come back for the proper lighted shots.


And of course, gotta take pictures of the cracked ground.


No, that's not my doing. These tire marks are only possible when the ground's wet. When i was there, the ground was dry as a bone.

Not wanting to deal with Cajon Pass traffic, I embarked on more side quests that were fruitless.

Finally, I gave in and got on I-15 South. I figured by the time I get to Cajon Pass traffic should die down already. Worst case, I take the offroad bypass from the freeway and rejoin the freeway later. Luckily, when I got there, traffic was manageable and got home at around 9PM.

I legit do not miss PRCali at all and cannot wait for the next trip outside of this hellhole.


note: yeap. that's how I felt when I crossed the last stateline and how I still feel today, a week later. I hate this state so much that when I crossed the state line I had a 60s video of me just yelling "F*CK" while filming GMap. I think it was on my IG Story.

 

[JamRam]

I hate this state so much that when I crossed the state line I had a 60s video of me just yelling "F*CK" while filming GMap. I think it was on my IG Story.

Sooooo......what's keeping you there?

 

[boogielander]

Sooooo......what's keeping you there?

well what kept me here was it's easier to get to alaska from here than from TX or FL lol that's the whole reason tbh.
now after alaska i'm starting to seriously look for somewhere that doesn't have all these regulations, fees, and poorly managed thieving government.
I liked MT and WY but not the winter lol
TN is high on my radar.

 

[boogielander]

9/28-29 weekend - chasing fall colors
Hit up a meadow in the Sierras with my friends. They came up with the idea after I unpacked and cleaned the interior of the truck so... all the stuff goes back in lol

Fall colors started to creep up in the higher elevation eastern Sierras.
The trail was bumpy, rutty, rocky, and flexy. Much worse than the year before. It was so bad that last year it only took us hour and half to get to camp from trailhead, this year it took us over 2 hours to get in.

It was so bad that we were all over it when we got to camp. BUT, we were treated with this view.

I played around with my camera.

And drooling over my friend's brand new PW. He put 35s on it right away.
So much more clearance than I do!

My clearance, compared to the PW, is a joke. But, I do get more droop to compensate for the lack of solid front axle, and on the higher speed sections my shocks' cycling speed makes up for it.

Then there's our trail lead: 3rd gen Cummins on 39s. Double of my clearance and did the whole trail. I was behind him and watched his chase lights for drops and such, but gave up soon. No matter what it was, his tail was so planted that it was misleading to follow him lol he just ate through everything.

Night time low was in the 20s. But the milky way made up for the coldness with no camp fire due to fire ban. The milky way was so clear that I could see it with my naked eye.

And of course, gotta attempt to get the truck and the milky way together. The yellow light was on because my friends were making dinner. For once, I was not the chef!

The next day, we bumped our way out and discovered more fall colors.

Of all the trucks that were present, I happen to have the least amount of clearance. I mean, I'm the only IFS here while everyone else is solid axles... so much easier to achieve big lift and big tires the correct way.
This is probably the last time we come up here. The trail was way too damaged than last year, and we had way too many clueless people on the trail. Hell, we ran into one guy who just parked his truck in the middle of the trail so he can unload his passengers, all while there were plenty of space for him to do that IN HIS CAMPSITE! Another guy was yielding to us since we had right of way (going up hill), but the MF behind him was honking at him to keep going. This place was great, but not anymore.
It is ruined.
By the clueless people who should not be out here.

 

[Ready Go]

note: yeap. that's how I felt when I crossed the last stateline and how I still feel today, a week later. I hate this state so much that when I crossed the state line I had a 60s video of me just yelling "F*CK" while filming GMap. I think it was on my IG Story.

Oops...see next response...

 

[Ready Go]

Don't worry friend, we all hate Cali (no, we don't really..yes, we do really!). I try to never order parts from there..it takes forever with all of Cali's regulations.

Here in Wisco, a huge portion of people winter in FL. Some move there in retirement, but eventually end up in TN..because it's the perfect median!

I once spent two weeks in Whitefish, MT (20 years ago) and was absolutely in love with it!! I still think about it often and wish I could have moved there..not the same as it was now though..big money bought everything.

 

[MagnumPSI]

well what kept me here was it's easier to get to alaska from here than from TX or FL lol that's the whole reason tbh.
now after alaska i'm starting to seriously look for somewhere that doesn't have all these regulations, fees, and poorly managed thieving government.
I liked MT and WY but not the winter lol
TN is high on my radar.

Unless y’all know something I don’t, good luck finding any high speed trails anywhere close to TN to stretch the legs on your Foxes. Those trails are tight. The issue with TX is everything is private land. I have a friend who did a trip to Big Bend earlier this year and said it was gorgeous with a few roads you could definitely fly down with a good suspension set up, but other than Big Bend so much of it is private land that there’s nowhere to get out and go.

All that being said you just drove to Alaska so I think you’d be fine making trips from any of those states to go wheeling. Parts of TN are beautiful and I love Florida if you can get away from the crowds, the fishing and seafood are amazing. I don’t know too much about any off roading there though, except for the Jeep badge of honor trail in the Ocala National Forest.

 

[Ready Go]

@MagnumPSI

I was thinking that also..and therefore didn't suggest Wisco (and think TN is the same), even though it's gorgeous here!

Although..way "up nort, der hey" we have TONS of UTV Trails to ride for days!!

 

[MagnumPSI]

@MagnumPSI

I was thinking that also..and therefore didn't suggest Wisco (and think TN is the same), even though it's gorgeous here!

Although..way "up nort, der hey" we have TONS of UTV Trails to ride for days!!

Yeah once you get east of Texas I honestly don’t know of any states with public land where there’s access to roads you can bomb down like that. There are some absolutely beautiful places you can get to by wheeling but it’s just a different type. I know there are definitely tight technical trails everywhere but the option to fly down wide open fire roads just isn’t as prevalent out here.

All of the trails near me that are fun are slow speed articulation stuff and I’ve just had to accept taking a 1/2 ton on them is gonna result in a ton of pinstripes from all the trees. I don’t mind anymore like I used to though because my truck is so good at what it does and I like using it for what it’s made for(more or less). Plus Wranglers and 4Runners aren’t nearly as comfortable and don’t have the power, payload, or towing capacity ours do so I’m ok with some pinstripes as payoff.

 

[boogielander]

Don't worry friend, we all hate Cali (no, we don't really..yes, we do really!). I try to never order parts from there..it takes forever with all of Cali's regulations.

Here in Wisco, a huge portion of people winter in FL. Some move there in retirement, but eventually end up in TN..because it's the perfect median!

I once spent two weeks in Whitefish, MT (20 years ago) and was absolutely in love with it!! I still think about it often and wish I could have moved there..not the same as it was now though..big money bought everything.

yeah that's also what i saw when i was out there with MT.
they were not joking with all the people moving in.

TN seems like the better median for me.

 

[boogielander]

Unless y’all know something I don’t, good luck finding any high speed trails anywhere close to TN to stretch the legs on your Foxes. Those trails are tight. The issue with TX is everything is private land. I have a friend who did a trip to Big Bend earlier this year and said it was gorgeous with a few roads you could definitely fly down with a good suspension set up, but other than Big Bend so much of it is private land that there’s nowhere to get out and go.

All that being said you just drove to Alaska so I think you’d be fine making trips from any of those states to go wheeling. Parts of TN are beautiful and I love Florida if you can get away from the crowds, the fishing and seafood are amazing. I don’t know too much about any off roading there though, except for the Jeep badge of honor trail in the Ocala National Forest.

i can always go to places if i need to get my high speed fix in a truck lol
perspective and how i build trucks will change once i get out for sure. probably will be building truck with habitat that are way too heavy instead LOL

 

[boogielander]

Yeah once you get east of Texas I honestly don’t know of any states with public land where there’s access to roads you can bomb down like that. There are some absolutely beautiful places you can get to by wheeling but it’s just a different type. I know there are definitely tight technical trails everywhere but the option to fly down wide open fire roads just isn’t as prevalent out here.

All of the trails near me that are fun are slow speed articulation stuff and I’ve just had to accept taking a 1/2 ton on them is gonna result in a ton of pinstripes from all the trees. I don’t mind anymore like I used to though because my truck is so good at what it does and I like using it for what it’s made for(more or less). Plus Wranglers and 4Runners aren’t nearly as comfortable and don’t have the power, payload, or towing capacity ours do so I’m ok with some pinstripes as payoff.

my friend with his JT joined this weekend's trip.
i think that's gonna be the better option for me out east with tighter stuff while retaining solid axle capabilities.
at least while the full sizers in our group were going slow to navigate the trail due to size, the JT was taking everything like it's a walk in the park with plenty of rooms to spare.